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THE CHILDREN 

OF 
THE UNIVERSE 



SCHEVEL TZITLONOK 






THE CHILDREN 

OF 
THE UNIVERSE 



A PLAY 



PROLOG FIVE ACTS EPILOG 



BY 
SCHEVEL TZITLONOK 



NEW YORK: 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 

1921 






Copyright 1921 
By Schevel Tzitlonok 
All Rights Reserved 



Printed in the United States oi America. 

©C1.A614905 



IM^ I 



To 
Toledo University 

WHERE 

I RECEIVED THE INSPIRATION 

FOR THIS PLAY 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

For the valuable and patient assistance given me 
in interpreting my conceptions in a tongue which was 
new to me at the time I wrote this play, I wish to 
thank my wife Anna Scherff Tzitlonok; Vera Col- 
bert wife of Roy Colbert former instructor at Toledo 
University, Toledo, Ohio; and Georgia Irvin, a 
former student at the Milwaukee State Normal 
School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

ScHEVEL Tzitlonok. 



THE CHILDREN 

OF 
THE UNIVERSE 



the children of the universe 

Prolog. 
A Chemical Laboratory. 

Act 1 — Scene 1 

The moving of worlds in TiME and SPACE. 

Scene 2 

An early spring morning in a beautiful valley on 
the Earth. 

Act 2 

A lake in a forest. 

Act 3 — Scene 1 
The journey of Man to the Road of Thots. 

Scene 2 

The Road of Thots on which HealTHY REASON 
appears. 

Act 4 

A dark forest, the kingdom of the Yellow Devil, 
inhabited by the tribes of SUPERSTITIONS. 

Act 5 

The valley of OPPORTUNITY and BeauTY. 

Epilog, 
The appearance of ABSTRACT on the stage. 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

CHARACTERS 

Doctor 
A medium-sized man. Wears glasses. Dressed 
in a white tunic — laboratory coat. 

*'He" 
Dark, strong face. Taller than DOCTOR. Dressed 
the same, but without glasses. 

Abstract 
Tall and graceful in appearance. Walks airily 
Dressed in a black mantle. 

Orchestra 
A group representing different plants, animals, 
men, insects, fish, and birds is playing. 

Universe 
A strong middle-aged woman with an iron rod in 
her right hand. Has a large strong-featured face. 

Mystery 

A figure dressed in a flowing black robe. 

Time 
A tall, strong woman with wings outstretched. 
Dressed in a flowing white robe. Scythe in hand. 

Space 

Tall and strong as TiME. Clothed in colors of the 
sky. 



the children of the universe 

Bacillus 
A little girl whose face is covered with a gray veil. 

Man 
Tall and thin with a queer, pale, suffering face. 
Dressed in old clothes on which are many patches. 

Animal 
Strong and rough in appearance with face and feet 
of an animal. Dressed in fur. 

Plant 
A middle-aged woman, graceful in appearance ; an 
expressionless and rather stupid-looking face. 
Dressed in green leaves and grass. 

Mineral 
A young woman with an innocent and timid face. 
Dressed in clothes spangled with different forms of 
crystals. 

Life and Death 

Two graceful youths full of energy. Both alike. 
Dancing around facing each other, grasping hands 
crossed. 

Philosophy 

A young woman who carries in her hand a scroll. 
Dressed in white with a long loose black robe. 

Knowledge 

A little boy. Wears glasses. Pulls a child's ex- 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVEI^E 

press wagon filled with several books and models of 
mechanical and electrical toys. He has several books 
in a strap, thrown over the left shoulder. 

Healthy Reason 

A tall man with broad shoulders. Very strong. Pro- 
portionally built. A gray beard. 

Body 

An old, awkward man dressed in flesh color. 
Body is covered with wounds and sores of different 
diseases. He moves around and smells; speaks 
roughly and demands persistently, "I want to eat, 
eat, eat, and drink." 

Soul 

An old crippled woman with a wrinkled face 
turned to the left side. Dressed in an old black man- 
tle. Carries a cane and speaks sufferingly and coughs. 

Yellow Devil 

A large figure of a devil with golden horns. A 
sarcastic expression, big mouth, and large abdomen. 
Dressed in bright golden color. Strapped on the 
left side is a large bag filled with golden coins which 
he scatters broadcast wherever he appears. 

Faith, Love, Hope 

Three beauties. In white flowing robes, with hair 
loose and free. 



the children of the universe 

New Conceptions 
A battalion of new conceptions, all brave youths. 
Dressed in white, with swords on the right side and 
pistols on the left side. 

The Tribe Of Superstitions 
All dressed in old clothes upon which are many 
patches. 

One Of The Superstitions 

Dressed as the others. 

Opportunities 
Maidens with wings. Dressed in rose and white. 
Graceful, dancing and flitting nymph-like from place 
to place. 

Childhood 

Youth 



PROLOG 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

Prolog 

Time — late at night. Outside it is lightening, 
thundering, and raining. 

A large laboratory with windows at either end of 
the front wall ; between the windows a large black- 
board at the left of which are cases of books. At the 
right side near the window is a desk on which are sev- 
eral manuscripts and a large note-book. Near the 
window on the left side is a table upon which is a 
large vat. In the center of the room are other tables 
upon which are different apparatuses, many bottles 
with drugs, and beakers. 

The Doctor is sitting at the desk, writing. 

Doctor 

{Gets up from the desk, Soes to one of the tables; 
takes difierent crystals from the dishes; exclaims:) 

How wonderful are the crystals! How symmetri- 
cal and graceful are their forms! How wonderful 
are the laws of God in chemistry! I see in all these 
laws a great harmony and behind the harmony, a per- 
sonality — God. 

{Assumes a prayerful attitude and prays:) 

Oh God, I thank Thee for creating the world, for 

11 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

creating me — man — in Thy image, for creating for us 
the plants, animals, minerals, daylight, and night; for 
giving us faith, hope, and love. Give us strength to 
carry on our w^ork. Save our nation, help us in war. 
I thank Thee for ruling the w^orld with righteousness. 
Help us to care for our brothers and sisters — the un- 
fortunates who go down in the struggle. Help us to 
safeguard our nation. Help us to be inventive for our 
nation's sake. And when life is over prepare for us 
a place in heaven. Amen. 

{Goes to the vat, puts in some powders, then Writes 
a formula on the board and exclaims:) 

A wonderful thing, a wonderful thing! 

( The blackboard cracks where the formula is Writ- 
ten; out bursts a flame from which "He" appears.) 

"He" 
{Laughs.) 

Ha, ha, ha, ha ! 

Doctor 

{Staggers back in fright, shielding his face with 
his arm.) 

What is this ? Who are you ? 

{More calmly.) 

I don't understand. What is the matter? 

"He" 

I am the embodiment of your formula. I was born 

12 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

deep in the centuries of your formulas. I am the other 
side of you and of the vision that your grandfather 
Moses saw in the bush. 

Doctor 

Please leave me alone. Don't disturb my quiet 
soul. It is impossible for me to consider my formulas. 
I am afraid I'll have to discard my past. Please 
leave me alone. 

"He" 

Very well, but you may expect me to return at any 
time. Good-bye, Doctor. 

("He" leaves the laboratory.) 

Doctor 

{Irresolute. After some hesitation, goes to the vat; 
pauses; then places some more powders therein. Ex- 
claims:) 

A wonderful thing! A wonderful thing! 

{An explosion takes place in the vat from which 
appears "He". Music plays.) 

Doctor 

{Staggers back, but recovers more quickly than be- 
fore,) 

Oh, here you have come back to poison my soul! 
Leave me alone! What do you want? 

13 



the children of the universe 

"He" 
I want to look over some of your studies and ask 
you some questions. 

Doctor 
Don't ask me anything. I am afraid to answer 
many of your questions. 

"He" 
{Takes a bottle and reads:) 

"For analysis. The soil from the valley of the 
Nile". 

{Turning to the Doctor.) 

Why don't you make this analysis? 

Doctor 
{Sighs.) 

The analysis, I 1 — I am afraid-d-d-d 



"He" 

{Makes the analysis himself.) 

{Meantime the Doctor watches fearfully.) 

"He" 
{Writes on the blackboard; reads:) 

"The valley of the Nile, Egypt; analysis shows the 
Nile makes a deposit of soil over its valley each year 
and there are over two million of these deposits." 

14 



the children of the universe 
Doctor 

{Fearfully and timidly.) 

Didn't I tell you not to make this analysis? 

"He" 

{Goes to desk <3nc? reads from the note-book in a 
monotone, turning pages and reading at random.) 

"Notes of knowledge. Organic chemistry treats 
of the products of all organic life: animals, plants, 
and man." {Turns page.) "And now organic and 
inorganic chemistry could be studied together. Bi- 
ology — the life processes in man are the same as in 
the animal. Anatomy — the construction of their tis- 
sues are the same. Man has very suspicious rudi- 
ments." {Turns page.) "Man cannot live without 
food, water, oxygen, nitrogen, and many other ele- 
ments. He belongs to the omnivorous class but eats 
more flesh than any other animal in the world." 

Doctor 
{Struggling with his emotions, says:) 
You are a cynic. You'd better leave the laboratory. 

"He" 

{Quickly looking up from the book-) 

Take off your mask! Take a look at yourself! 
I will stay here until I have completed your formulas. 

15 



the children of the universe 

Doctor 
{Sits in chair, resignedly, and tries to read.) 

{Outside it is lightening and thundering; the 
wind blows the window open and ABSTRACT enters. 
Abstract moves softly and swiftly, shakes a warn- 
ing finger at "He" saying, "Sh-h-h" ; wal\s to the 
Doctor and greets him with a slap on the shoulder.) 

Abstract 
Hello, Doctor! 

Doctor 

{Turns.) 

Oh! You came so unexpectedly! But Fm not 
surprised. 

Abstract 
Why are you so phlegmatic and sorrowful? 

Doctor 
{Agitatedly points toward *'He'*.) 

Do you see that fellow? He is the cause. He 
bothers me with the formulas. Since he started to 
visit me I feel that I am losing my faith, hope, and 
love. I am so angry that I feel like burning all the 
chemistries in the world. I would, if I couldn't see 
in them the great wonders of God. 

Abstract 

{Soothingly.) 

My dear friend, don't be so discouraged. {Pauses, 

16 ^ 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

then speaks.) I have a wonderf ulidea ! There is a 
great dramatic opera tonight. Let us go. 

Doctor 
It is after midnight! It is time to sleep. Your pro- 
posals are always eccentric. 

Abstract 
(To ''He '.) 

Well, Trouble-maker, what do you say? Would 
you like to go to see a good play? I know you are 
quite a critic. 

"He" 

Wait until I have finished these formulas. 

Abstract 
I am the manager of the play. Just a few seconds 
ago I came from the endlessness of worlds. I am 
about to return. Come, get ready, Doctor. 

Doctor 
I will not go {Points to *'He".) if "He" is going. 

Abstract 
Oh, stop! This is an old story. Shake hands 
for tonight. It is a great play. We will all go to- 
gether. 

"He" 

I don't care; Fm not angry. 

{Leaves table where he is Working and shakes 
hands with the Doctor.) 

17 



the children of the universe 

Abstract 
{Half "Smiling.) 

Doctor, I'm telling you before-hand, there is some 
complex food in this production. If you are not able 
to digest all that you will see and hear there, you'd 
better stay away and continue to sleep. I must an- 
nounce the play. Are you ready? 

{Steps to window and gives bugle call; silence.) 

Doctor 

{Sitting in the chair, meditatively sighs, deeply 
and audibly.) 

Abstract 

{Goes to the center of the stage, motions to the 
Doctor and says in an undertone firmly.) 

Follow me into the endlessness of worlds. 

{Quick change from light to darkness on the 
stage. Bugling.) 

Abstract 
{Emphatically.) 

Citizens of the earth and different planets, come 

to see "The Children Of The Universe", the 
dramatic opera that is now staged. All are welcome. 
But he who is not able to digest all that he will see 
and hear had better remain asleep. Let the blind 
and deaf stay at home. You will have to live a mil- 
lion years a minute and walk with us a million miles 

18 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

an inch. Remember this: that in all the worlds you 
will see the five principal figures: LiFE and DEATH, 

Time and Space, and Mystery. 
{Thundering and lightning,) 
Curtain 



19 



THE CHILDREN 
OF THE 

UNIVERSE. 



ACT ONE 



ACT ONE 

Scene One — Hills, valleys, rivers, steppes, 
prairies, plains, oceans, cities, streams, deserts, skies 
lighted w^ith stars, moving planets, — all constantly 
moving. 

Time — morning, noon, evening, and night; Spring, 
Summer, Fall, and Winter, — changing in their order. 

Life, Death, Mystery, Time, and Space are 
w^alking energetically thru the changing seasons and 
spaces. 

The moving of the scenes and seasons stops upon 
the Earth. 



25 



ACT ONE 

Scene Two — A bright Spring morning in a 
beautiful valley. 

In the distance a large forest, in which birds are 
singing. On the right side a hill. Below the hill, 
a stream. 

On the hill sits UNIVERSE with an iron rod in her 
right hand, waving it from side to side. Around her 
is moving MystERY. 

In the center of the valley, an ORCHESTRA, which 
is scattered about, representing different trees, animals, 
men, insects, fish, and birds, is playing two numbers; 

"The Melting of the Snow" 

"The Falling of the Rain" 

Life and Death are dancing gracefully; TiME 
and Space are walking together and talking. 

{Music ceases.) 



27 



the children of the universe 
Time 

Well, Space, we have talked about many things, 
but I forgot to ask you where we are. What is the 
name of this place? It seems to be a very small prov- 
ince. 

Space 

Don't you recognize that this is the little province 
that Man calls Earth? You said if we study for a 
while in this province, we will hear and see many 
queer things of the same sort, which we have seen and 
heard in other small and large places. 

Time 
Earth? Ha, ha, ha, ha! I remember this prov- 
ince very well now. I will tell you the truth — I do 
not know where I have had the best laugh, on this 
Earth or in other places. 

(Laughs heartily.) 

Ha, ha, ha, ha! I remember I could not under- 
stand what the inhabitants of Mars, Mercury, Saturn, 
Jupiter, and many other provinces were talking about 
to one another and asking, "What time is it?" I thot 
they wanted to insult me; for instance on Jupiter, 
when the question, "What time is it?" was asked, 
some one answered: "Half past ninety billion, twen- 
ty-five million, nine hundred thousand, one hundred 
twenty-six revolutions". And on Saturn I heard 
some one say, "Fifty million o'clock." Wasn't it 
funny? I wondered where they got those calculations! 
Small were their measurements! But I do not feel 

28 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

the same now. After wandering over millions of 
centers and provinces I noticed smaller calculations. 
On the last place I found them making me less than 
ten million. Ha, ha, ha, ha ! 

Space 

What do we care? I, too, felt small when I heard 
on Saturn that the space of our mother, the UNIVERSE, 
is only three hundred sixty-five million worlds, and 
then stops. I thot, "Oh, how small are the ideas of 
those planet-walkers!" But later I noticed smaller 
notations — less than ten million planets ! 

Time 

Yes, this is a matter of opinion which depends upon 
the size of their unit of measure. We know that the 
microbes have a very different standard of measure of 
Time and Space. Perhaps it is in some way pro- 
portional to the position of the individual in the UNI- 
VERSE. 

Space 

Who is able to know? Who, except Mystery.^ 

Time 

My experience leads me to believe that all the 
little and big provinces are living bodies — organisms. 
Take for instance the Earth. Think, how many liv- 
ing processes you can find in her! 

Space 
Some of these bodies are a million times larger than 
the Earth. 



the children of the universe 
Time 

Certainly, and, if the Earth is a Hving body, her 
measurement of us — TiME and SpACE — is no doubt 
a milHon times as great as that of the bodies living 
upon her. 

Space 
Yes, nothing is absolute in the world. Everything 
is relative except two things — the NOTHING and the 

Relation. 

Time 
Since I know (of course, I can't tell just when I be- 
gan to know. I am absolutely not able to say when 
my existence began) — but since I know, all things — 
the planets, the forms of their substances, such as ani- 
mals, crystals, plants, men, and bacteria — each one 
thinks that he is the center of the UNIVERSE, and for 
him only, only for him, was God working to create all 
the surroundings. 

Space 

You are right. This is very true. According to 
their understanding of the purpose of God, they meas- 
ure Him by their size and image. Take any living 
form of substance as animal, crystal, or plant — every 
one of them prays to God in his own way. Every 
one imagines God according to his morality and 
ideals. 

Time 

Yes, they give Him their personality. For exam- 
ple, take the BACILLUS, one of the greatest and most 

30 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

intelligent of personalities — she believes that the pur- 
pose of God is to bring diseases and decay into the 
world and that she was created in His image. 

And Man-N-N — 

Space 

Who? 

Time 

Man — a living form with a big imagination in a 
neglected body, and a weak soul. 

Space 

Man? Yes, I know him. 

Time 

He gives to God his personality and thinks of Him 
according to his morality and immorality. A short 
time ago, about four thousand revolutions of the Earth 
we see he made a cow and knelt to her. 

Space 

Oh, what are you saying? Four thousand! I 
know of some places in which they are now praying to 
animals. 

Time 

Sh, sh, sh, sh. Here come some of the inhabitants 
of this planet. 

(Enter a group of five: BACILLUS, Man, Ani- 

mal, Plant, and Mineral.) 

31 



the children of the universe 

Bacillus 
(Happily.) 

Brothers and sisters, I cannot understand your logic 
in thinking that you are the center of the world. Who 
doesn't understand and who doesn't feel that the ba- 
cilli, spirilla, and the different cocci are the central 
figures of all existence? And that you — all of you 
— animals, plants, crystals — are created for us? 
There is no doubt, I am the image and the ideal of 
God. Our offerings to Him are the beautiful aromat- 
ic ptomaines and toxins. Only one thing is bad — 
the diseases of Man which cause us much of our 
work. We are overworked by him. The many dirty, 
smoky cities with their dark rooms and poor food 
give us a great field in which to do God's holy work. 
This work — it is our duty to perform. 

(Prays.) 

Oh, God, I thank Thee for choosing me. Save 
our nation — the tuberculosis bacillus; save our union 
— tuberculosis, scrofula, and syphilis. Help us to 
fight against the cocci, spirilla, and other like nations. 
Oh, how I hate them all! The spirillum I dislike 
because when it moves, it takes its little tail with it. 
The coccus I hate simply because he is not a dipplo- 
coccus. Worse than these I hate Man's little boy. 
Knowledge, for he has begun to follow me too 
closely. Oh, God, help me to make stronger the 
ptomaines. Amen. 

Man 

Ha, ha, ha, ha! Oh, you — all of you! I am the 

32 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

central figure in the world. Nine thousand six hun- 
dred seventy-two years, three months, four days, three 
hours and twenty-three and a half seconds ago, when 
God created the world, He created me and then He 
created you for me. If you doubt this, I have the nec- 
essary evidence to prove my statements. It is so 
written in the oldest of our books. 

(Time and Space are laughing.) 

Space 
Oh, Time, stop! You started to laugh first. My 
side still aches from laughing on the other planets. 

(Both laugh.) 

Space 
I'm afraid so much laughing will make me ill. 

Time 

What do you think of Man's and BacILLUS' 
measurements of God's work and God's purposes? 

{Both are still laughing.) 

Space 

Stop laughing. They will see that we are laugh- 
ing at them. 

Time 

I wonder how you can say such a thing — they no- 
tice? They have ears but hear not; they have eyes 
but they see only little things. 

33 



the children of the universe 
Animal 

You, Bacillus, have too great an imagination. 
Man, your calculations are false. I remember sev- 
eral hundred thousand revolutions of the Earth ago, 
we were all living in the forest. You didn't have guns, 
clothes, nor houses, and you didn't have fire. But you 
had a beautiful long tail, strong teeth, and sharp 
claw^s. 

Man 

Stop! Don't say such rough crude things. I am 
the king of the world under God. I am His image. 

Animal 

Listen, Man, let me finish my speech. I say, 
when you did not have all these things, you were 
not so despotic and crafty as you are now. You were 
timid. 

Man 

I do not remember such times. Be more accurate, 
you rough Animal. What do you know about God? 
Do you pray to God? Do you make offerings to him? 
Do you have a language and a society? 

Animal 

We have animals living in societies; they have a 
high development, are moral and religious, and are 
well organized. The bees and the ants, tho you 
couldn't tell me anything about them, for you do not 
know their language, have their morals, religion, and 
society; of course they are different from yours as 

34 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

yours are different from the morals, religion, and so- 
ciety of the inhabitants of Mars, Saturn, or Jupiter. 

Plant 
May I say a word? 

Animal 

Certainly, my dear sister. Tell Man that he 
thinks too much of himself. You have the same 
right before the UNIVERSE as he. 

Man 

Oh, you stupid person, PLANT, what could you 
who have so little expression in your face, possibly 
have to say? 

Plant 

I want to tell you about my religion. I believe 
that all kinds of animals, bacilli, and crystals were 
created only for me. When you die, your flesh and 
bones decay and this promotes my growth. Your 
liquid parts are evaporating into the air and I absorb 
them. At the same time, I play the first part in your 
temporary life in the UNIVERSE. All the YiYing, 
forms depend upon us, for we are the source of food 
for all of them. Man doesn't know much about us. 
Who has more beautiful colors? Who has the best 
songs and music? Go into our forests when the winds 
visit us ; hear how we pray to God and sing paeans to 
Him. Take your great artists — Raphael, Da Vinci, 
and Michelangelo. Where did they get their colors? 
Or take the great musical composers — Beethoven, 

35 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

Chopin, and Wagner. Is not their music an imitation 
of the songs of the forest? 

Mineral 
{Innocently and timidly.) 

My dear friends, this is my first speech. I have 
never been brave enough to speak before; but one of 
our brothers, our competitor, Man, has too exaUed an 
opinion of himself and I cannot be silent any longer. 
I remember nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine 
thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine revolutions of the 
Earth ago, he vv^as with us minerals and crystals in the 
bottom of the sea. He vv^as so small and timid, I 
could not see any difference betw^een us; and novv^ he 
has forgotten and doesn't recognize me at all. 

(All are distressed and looking toward MoTHER 

Universe. All are talking except Man and Ba- 
cillus.) 

All 

( One to the other.) 

What do you think of them? 

(Man and Bacillus go toward the hill.) 

Man 

There is MYSTERY. I v^^ant to probe her. 

Time and Space 
{Turning toward BACILLUS and Man.) 

Look at the fellovs^s ! Look where they are going 
with their standards of measurements! 

36 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

{Speaking forcibly and in a monotone — to Man 
and Bacillus.) 

You will never reveal MYSTERY. 

(Man and Bacillus — they step but make no pro- 
gress because they are on a moving surface.) 

All The Characters 

(Looking toward UNIVERSE.) 

Let us go to Mother Universe and ask her who 

is the chosen and the elected — the center of the UNI- 
VERSE. 

Mother, Mother! Show your justice. 

Universe 
{Speaking firmly and with unvarying emphasis.) 

My Children, you are all equal. One is no 
more precious than the other. Do you see this iron 
rod? 

{Lifts the rod and waves it.) 

This rod rules all the billions of worlds. The 
iron rod is my law. All are equal before this law. 
You are all dear to me. Fear not ; nothing will be 
taken from you. That you are all equal is proved 
every day in your transformation from one form to 
another. Yesterday a crystal, tomorrow a plant, day 
after tomorrow an animal, and the converse. Since 
the worlds were created, nothing has been lost, not 

37 



THE CHILDx^EN OF THE UNIVERSE 

even a grain of dust. All living forms are constantly 
changing. I have tvv^o energetic boys who conduct 
these changes. You know them — DEATH and LiFE. 

{Points to them.) 

Here they are! They are always seen together. 
Where LiFE begins, Death ends. Where DEATH 
starts, Life stops. 

All 

{Weeping and wailing.) 

Mother, Mother, have pity upon us! 

{They Wait silently several mintues for an answer,) 

{Music plays; and softly from the forest comes 
Philosophy accompanied by Knowledge who has 
a little express-Wagon filled with models of modern 
mechanical and electrical toys. All look toward 
them.) 

Animal 

Who are they? 

Bacillus 

The woman is PHILOSOPHY, the sister of EXPERI- 
ENCE; and the boy is KNOWLEDGE, her nephew, the 
son of Experience. He has scrofula and for this 
reason he lives in the forest. He needs fresh air. 
Oh, how I hate him! 

{Silence. All look toward UNIVERSE.) 

Philosophy 
Inhabitants of the Earth, we have been watching 

38 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

here for centuries. There is no use wasting time liere. 
You will have no other answer from MOTHER UNI- 
VERSE. You will see only the waving of the rod. 

Bacillus 
{With suffering.) 

I feel some doubt about this matter. I was sure 
that I was the center of the world. 

Philosophy 
You should recognize that you are all equal. Just 
as Life and Death are for everybody, so the sun 
shines, the rain falls, the wind blows, night and day 
come, too, for everybody. Take life easier, live in 
harmony with the Earth! 

Animal, Mineral, Plant 
{Together.) 
Yes, she is right. 

(Bacillus and Man sigh audibly.) 

Man 
I am insulted. Was I not created in the image of 
God? 

Philosophy 
(To Man and Bacillus.) 

It is your own fault. In the crime is the punish- 
ment. He did not create you in His image ; you cre- 
ated Him in your image. 

(Bacillus and Man weep aloud.) 

39 



the children of the universe 
Bacillus 

I am losing my faith and hope. I thot the 
world was ruled by righteousness. 

Philosophy 
{Speaking to all.) 

Hear, all of you. The different values that you 
have created out of your history — the right and wrong, 
the moral and immoral, the good and bad, the true 
and false — belong to you. They are your own crea- 
tions. You have no right to insult God with your 
small standards. It is absurd that you should imag- 
ine One so great as He having such small ideas. 

(Animal, Mineral, and Plant go into the 
forest.) 

(Bacillus goes to Knowledge and embraces 

him, laughing at the same time.) 

Knowledge 

Auntie, I don't like her and she embraces me. 

Philosophy 
{In a commanding tone.) 

Take off her veil! 

(Knowledge starts to take off the veil They 
Wrestle and BACILLUS overcomes KNOWLEDGE. BA- 
CILLUS arises and wallas scornfully away.) 

40 



the children of the universe 
Knowledge 

(Rising and Weeping.) 
I'll overcome you yet. 

Curtain. 



41 



ACT TWO 



ACT TWO 

A lake in a forest. 

On the left, are trees and underbrush. All about 
are stumps. 

It is late morning; insects are humming; butterflies 
are flying; frogs are hopping around. 

Death and Life are bathing in the lake. MYS- 
TERY is moving in and out among the trees. TiME 
and Space are seen on the right. Man and PHIL- 
OSOPHY are sitting on stumps. KNOWLEDGE is study- 
ing plants and insects. 

Man 
I feel very desolate and dark in my soul. Every- 
thing seems dim. I am weak as if recovering from a 
long illness. What is the purpose of life? The 
answer of UNIVERSE is a good one: "Nothing will be 
lost. They will take care of you." 

(Points toward LiFE and DEATH.) 

Just think what they will do! DEATH will come, 
perhaps in an hour, tomorrow, or in a week. Then 
Life will build new forms. 

{Sighs deeply.) 

Philosophy 
It is not so bad as you think. It is only a matter of 

45 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

feelings. As I understand it, we would be happier 
and more fortunate if we lived more in harmony with 
the Earth. What UNIVERSE said is true. Why 
should we be an exception to her rules more than the 
rest? Look all about you. How wonderful is all 
creation! How strong and healthy it is! Listen to 
the songs of the birds and the hum of the insects. 
Look there in the water — see how it reflects the forest 
and the sky. It is a fantasy. 

Man 
Ah, but I can hear again the words, "Nothing can 
be destroyed; they (pointing to LiFE and DeaTH) 
will take care of you." 

Philosophy 

I believe that we live forever. I feel that we have 
been millions of times on the Earth and will be mil- 
lions of times more. Let us absorb the sublimity of 
our surroundings. 

(Breathes deeply, enjoying the fresh air.) 

Man 
My throat is dry. I am thirsty. I should like a 
drink. 

Philosophy 

Knowledge, dear, will you bring Man a drink? 

Knowledge 

Auntie, I have the mixture that mother gave me. 
{He arises and quickly brings a drink in a jar.) 

46 



the children of the universe 
Man 

What is it? 

Knowledge 

Mother calls it "a mixture of great thots and bitter 
tears." Everyone is not able to taste it. Some who 
drink the mixture, grow rapidly older; others, grow 
young. 

Man 

{Drinks the mixture.) 

This makes me feel better. But I will go find a 
place where I can hide my face and comfort my soul. 
I feel so old and weak. Faith, hope, and love have 
left me. 

Philosophy 
Faith, Hope, and Love have not left you, but 
you have left them. You are a neuresthenic. I will 
send you to a great physician — but the journey to him 
is a long one. He is my old friend, Healthy 
Reason. He may be able to help you. 

Man 
{Speaking indifferently.) 

Where does he live? 

Philosophy 

Far away. Go thru the forest to a river, swim 

across, turn to the right, climb the hills and mountains 

before you, pass thru the valley that leads to the 

ocean, cross the ocean and you will come to a road 

47 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

you have never seen — the Road of Thots. There my 
friend will find you. He quickly recognizes strang- 
ers passing over this road. 

Man : 

{Speaking with interest.) 

I think I shall begin the journey. 

Philosophy 
But do not forget that every step must equal seven 
hundred miles. You will often be hungry, tired, 
and thirsty. 

Man 

(Shakes hands with PHILOSOPHY.) 

I am very thankful that you came to me at this 
time. And you, my little friend, KNOWLEDGE, I 
thank you for the mixture. 

Farewell. 

Knowledge 

(Giving him a flask filled with the mixture.) 
Take this with you. 

(^Music plays. Lights change.) 

(Man departs. LiFE and DEATH go before. 
Mystery passes thru the forest. TiME and SPACE 
move about him.) 

Curtain 

48 



ACT THREE 



ACT THREE 

Scene One — Moving picture effect. Man passes 
thru valleys, over hills, oceans, steppes, and seas. LiFE 
Death, Mystery, Time and Space are with him 
always. 



ACT THREE 

Scene Two — The moving effect stops at a long 
road on either side of which are trees. At one side 
is the travelers' guide post marked — "The Road Of 
Thots''. Among the trees at the right is a table. 

Man 

{Tired and dusty.) 

This seems to be the place. I am tired, thirsty, 
and hungry. 

{Removes lunch and flask horn knapsack^) 

Healthy Reason 
{Appears in road.) 

No doubt you are Man for w^hom I have been 
looking. 

{They sit under a tree by the roadside.) 

Man 
Perhaps I am 

{Speaks faintly as tho very fatigued.) 

Greetings from your friend PHILOSOPHY. Oh-h-h! 
I am so weak and tired ! 

{Almost faints,) 

53 



the children of the universe 

Healthy Reason 
I am ashamed of you — just like an hysterical girl. 

{Feels his pulse; takes out a small sack containing 
medicine and instruments,) 

I shall have to examine you. Take off your clothes. 

{Examines him all over. Pauses.) 

Upon examining you I find that you have a very 
old chronic disease, — by name — the Yellow Devil. 
And concerning the controversy between your body 
and your soul, the Yellow Devil is one of the 
principal causes. So it will be necessary to operate 
on you to make a complete analysis. 

Man 
Oh, operate, cut, anything! I feel so worn out 
that I have little to lose. 

Healthy Reason 
Come. 

{Leads Man to a table enclosed in black ^^d 
covered with sheets. Man lies on the table and 
Healthy Reason puts on him a mask ^"^ gives 
him an anesthetic.) 

Count — slowly — one, two, three — and you will be 
asleep. 

Man 
{Slowly.) 

One — two — three four five Oh-h 

ah m m — m — m — 



54 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

{A storm approaches. Wind blows. Trees 
shake. Thunder and lightning is heard and seen.) 

(Healthy Reason takes a large knife and cuts 
Man in two parts, from which appear two figures — 
Body and Soul. Between them is the Yellow 
Devil with outstretched arms. Stage is dim as fig- 
ures appear. HEALTHY REASON continues as if 
working at the table.) 

Body 

{An old awkward man, dressed in flesh color. 
Body is covered with the scars and sores of different 
diseases. He moves around and smells. He speaks 
roughly and demands persistently:) 

I want to eat, eat, eat, and drink. 

Soul 
{An old crippled lady with a wrinkled face turned 
to the left side; dressed in an old black mantle. She 
carries a cane and is seated upon the stump of a tree. 
She looks at the sky and speaks sufferingly and 
coughs.) 

Oh, you coarse Body! Just as I am about to look 
at the sky or to dream about something intellectual 
you start to bother me with your animal wishes, "Eat 
and drink; drink and eat." I am ashamed of myself 
that I am in touch with you. 

Body 
{Demandingly.) 

Eat! Eat! Eat! Eat! "^ 

66 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

(Healthy Reason gives him food.) 

Body 
(Turning to SoUL.) 

You miserable cripple! You hate me because I 
am so rough and exacting; but you look better in the 
face yourself since I ate. Where does your existence 
begin and how do you exist? Oh, you parasite! You 
live because I live! Your beginning is in my stom- 
ach. You said that I bothered you when you started 
to think of intellectual things! You stop being my 
parasite and I will stop bothering you. Could you 
exist with your intellectuality without me? 

Soul 

{Looking doubtful.) 
I 1— I 

Body 
You don't know yourself, — what you are, who you 
are, — but I know well who I am and what I need; 
and I am demanding it. I want to eat! Eat! 

(Healthy Reason brings in more food.) 

Soul 
(Coughs.) 

It is not your business to consider about my origin 
and my affairs. You are too stupid to consider such 
great and deep questions. Perhaps if it were not for 
me, the SoUL, your whole organization would not 

5G 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

work. I want to be independent and I do not recog- 
nize your influence over me. 

{Coughs.) 

I am too busy with great intellectual questions to 
give much consideration to your remarks. My atten- 
tion is more on the skies and the mysteries beyond the 
blue horizon. I can conceive of some very great val- 
ues which you are not able to appreciate. 

Body 
(Laughing.) 

Ha, ha, ha, ha! This is some grand rhetoric! "In- 
dependence!'* "Looking at the sky!" "Great in- 
tellectual questions!'* Yes, but why do you look so 
unfortunate, helpless, old, weak, and crippled? Per- 
haps you believe there is another existence for you af- 
ter this existence? If you believe this, then be con- 
tent. But even then there is no use for suffering in this 
existence. 

{Moves around, smelling.) 

Oh, I did not sleep enough. 

Soul 

You are very prosaic. 

{Takes the cane and tries to move hut is unable to 
do so.) 

Soul 
Oh, I am helpless and tired! 

57 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE ' 

{Continues coughing; sighs deeply.) 
What shall I do? What shall I do? 

Healthy Reason 

{Looking toward SoUL.) 

My dear SoUL, don't be so despondent. There 
is hope if you live in perfect peace with BoDY. You 
are entirely correct about your great values and the 
w^ishes that you have; but it is impossible for you to 
exist out of harmony with BoDY. That is the only 
basis for your good fortune. You see you are so old 
because you left BoDY. Your strength is in him. 
There is an old saying: "In a healthy body is a 
healthy soul." 

Soul 
(Sighs deeply and audibly.) 
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh-h-h 

Healthy Reason 

(Looking toward BoDY.) 

Body, come to Soul. Don't leave her alone. 
Forgive her. It is very dangerous for both of you, to 
stay apart long. I want to finish my operation and 
analysis. Man cannot stay long under the anes- 
thetic. Something will happen to both of you. 

Body 
Something will happen to me? Look at me! Look 

58 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

at my wounds, my sores, my scars, and my diseases. 
Could anything worse befall me? I do not want to 
go back to Soul under these conditions. 

{Sounds of thunder, and a storm shades the 
trees.) 

No! No! I will not go to SoUL. 

{Vehemently.) 

Oh, Thunder! Thunder! Storm! Storm! Thunder 
and storm! Storm and thunder Tell the whole 
world and all the bodies in the world that I do 
not want to go back to SoUL under these conditions. 
She is too wise for me. She is too careless with me. 
No! No! No! 

Healthy Reason 

Do not risk it! It is dangerous! You are on the 
eve of putrif action and decay! 

Body 
No. No. I am ashamed to go with this miser- 
able crippled old SoUL thru the forest. I am asham- 
ed to have the bodies of the birds, the trees, and the 
insects see me with her. Am I, BoDY of Man, then, 
worse than anybody else's body? It is spring. How 
all the bodies enjoy themselves. SoUL has values 
there somewhere in the sky; but here on Earth, the 
Soul of Man makes valueless all things that are 
by nature of great value to me — BoDY. I had the 
same love that every other body has now. But Man's 

59 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

Soul was ashamed of that love upon the Earth so 
she has an abstract value of love in the sky but here 
on Earth she handles my love and sells it. No! I 
w^ould rather putrify and decay! 

Soul 
{Gets up from the stump and starts to go.) 

No! It is too prosaic for me to \e\.{coughs) BODY 
have any influence over me. I will go to my great 
thots. 

{Goes two or three steps and drops down.) 

Healthy Reason 

{Goes to Soul and raises her up and sets her on 
the stump.) 

You see you cannot make a move without BoDY. 

{Emphatically.) 

Soul and Body, you will have to hurry. I can- 
not hold Man any longer under the anesthetic. You 
did not appear in this world by your own free will, 
neither will you disappear when you wish. And now 
while you exist, I command you to work together and 
live in harmony. I force you. You, SoUL, I have 
no doubt, have some high aspirations without which 
Man would not be Man — I mean the intellectual 
side of Man; but even great intellect may be harm- 
ful when it works against Man's BodY; and a small 
intellect may be helpful if it works for the good of 
Body. Even these feelings depend upon the BoDY. 

60 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

A very small pain may impair clear thot. The un- 
derstanding of his beauty lies within you. If you will 
love instead of hate BoDY, you will see his beauty. 

(To Body.) 

You, Body, must not think that I give you all the 
right and privileges. No, you must live in harmony 
with each other. In the union of a healthy BoDY and 
a strong SoUL there is great beauty. Only here can 
Man's fortune begin. I command you both to get on 
the table. 

(A sound of metal is heard.) 

Yellow Devil 
{Laughing cynically.) 

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! "Beauty." "Harmony." 
"Healthy union." What kind of delirium is this? 

(Takes out golden coins and throws them on the 
stage; speaks disgustedly.) 

No. I don't want anything like that. 

Healthy Reason 

You, Yellow Devil, why do you laugh so sneer- 
ingly at me? 

Yellow Devil 
I am laughing at your analysis. I am laughing 
about the troubles of BoDY and SoUL. I hold them 
both in strong hands. I have poisoned the whole 

61 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

organism of Man's race.- I hate the beauty of the 
Soul and Body or any beauty. Man's race makes 
war between country and country, rehgion and reH- 
gion, between nation and nation, between class and 
class, between group and group just to please me. 

(Laughs.) 

Man's knowledge is just to please me. I am the 
ruler of Man's existence upon the Earth. Nothing 
is .holy to me. Everything is brought as an offering 
to me. 

Healthy Reason 

I know you stand in the way of Man's develop- 
ment; but your existence depends on old conceptions. 
A time will come, when I will call you to account. 
When Man acquires new conceptions, then I will do 
my best to cut you out from Man's organism. 

{Tal\s rapidly and restlessly.) 

I tell you I have no time to consider you now, be- 
cause I must awaken Man from the anesthetic. He 
sleeps too long. When Man awakens, he with me. 
Healthy Reason will do all in his power to de- 
stroy your sway. 

(Pushes aside the YelLOW DevIL and puts BODY 
and Soul on the table.) 

(Change of light.) 

Healthy Reason 
(Shakes Man.) 

Man! Awaken! .'■■■) 



the children of the universe 

Man 
(Awak,ens and sits up,) 

My head — I feel dizzy — I am nauseated. 
{Puts his head on J^nees. — Then looking up:) 
Doctor, what did you find there? 

Healthy Reason 

(Feels pulse.) 

I found that SoUL Hves separate from BoDY and 
pays too Kttle attention to him. For this reason they 
do not complete the necessary union and do not please 
one another. One of the causes of their inharmony 
is the chronic disease, YellOW Devil, a malady 
worse than cancer or sarcoma. 

Man 
Doctor, is there any hope for me? Shall I ever 
be strong, healthy and happy? 

Healthy Reason 
It is very difficult to say where and what the for- 
tune of Man is; but this I will tell you, — you shall 
not be passive. In your activity and creative power lies 
your salvation. When you have acquired new con- 
cepts of life then you will have to submit to a very 
necessary operation. 

Man 

I can make my BoDY better but how shall I cure my 
faithless, hopeless, and loveless SoUL? 

63 



the children of the universe 

Healthy Reason 
Only by acting and creating can it be cured. The 
sun shines forever. If there is no Hght and warmth 
in your SoUL, it is not because the sun is out of Hght 
and warmth. It is only that you have the wrong con- 
ception of life. Create. Create light and warmth 
in your SoUL. There is great hope in your activity. 
And thus you will have to work to regain Faith, 
Hope, and Love. 

Man 
{Rises slowly from the table with the help of 
Healthy Reason and puts on his old clothes.) 

I want a drink. Give me some of my mixture. 

Healthy Reason 

{Takes the flask; reads the label — '*The mixture 
of bitter tears and great thots;" he smells the mix- 
ture.) 

I recognize this mixture. It is the preparation of 

Experience. Her little boy, Knowledge, gave 

it to you. It is well that you have it at this time. 
{Takes a cup and fills it with the mixture.) 
Drink at once! 

Man 

{Drinks a little; yawns and stretches.) 

I feel revived and refreshed. 

{Looks around energetically and then down i 

clothes.) 

64 



the children of the universe 
Healthy Reason 

{Emphatically.) 

Take off those dirty clothes full of superstitions, 
with patches of old standards of the moral and im- 
moral, the false and true, the good and bad. 

{Gives him more to drink') 

Change those clothes ! 

(Man drinks at one draught and quickly tears 
off his clothes. Music plays. He is transformed into 
a well dressed noble young Man with a sWord at his 
side.) 

Healthy Reason 

You must have the joy of a child and still have the 
strength of a lion to struggle with life's battles. Take 
lessons from both of them. 

Man 
I haven't enough to eat or any place to live. 

Healthy Reason 
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha! 

{Turning to SPACE.) 

Space, Man says he hasn't a place to sleep nor 
enough to eat. 

Space 

On this Earth there is room and food enough for 
all inhabitants of Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, and many 

61 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

other places. Man has so many inventions that he 
can provide the comforts of life for all ; but he fails to 
make use of them. Wealth and poverty, the spawn 
of the Yellow Devil, are known to Man only. 

Healthy Reason 

The rich are poor as the poor are poor. Both of 
them are slaves of the YelLOW Devil. 

(Points to Man's sword.) 

Struggle to make both rich and poor understand 
that greed is not their gain — a full stomach does not 
make a full Man. 

{Calling to Time.) 

Time! Oh, Time! 

(Time comes nearer to him,) 

What do you know about the past, present, and 
future of Man's fate? 

Time 

Since I have known Man, he has gone thru a series 
of "isms" and at present, is entering upon a new "ism" 
which is coming irresistibly. 

(To Man.) 

It is not necessary to fear it, for it is not likely to 
bring complete fortune to Man. It may only bring 
opportunity for good fortune. Who knows what 
kind of "ism" will be next? None of these, how- 

66 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

ever, will help Man unless there is perfect coopera- 
tion between BoDY and SoUL. We must fight for 
the future and live today. 

Healthy Reason 
(Turning to Man.) 

You see, Man, Time and Space know some 
things. They certainly have had a wide experience. 

Man 
(Meditatively.) 
It seems to me that I'll have to begin life anew. 

( Walks around the stage and looks at the guide- 
po^t.) 

I wonder — I wonder what kind of a road leads 
from here. 

Healthy Reason 

(Going to the guide-post, reads:) 

"Attention. The Valley of OPPORTUNITY and 
Beauty lies beyond the forest of SUPERSTITIONS. 
Go straight thru this immense forest inhabited by the 
old traditions — snakes, monkeys, mules, wild animals, 
and scorpions." 

"Man 

Let us go to the Valley. 

Healthy Reason 
(Pointing to Man's sword.) 

Examine your sword closely, mobilize and inspect 

67 ' 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

your army of new CONCEPTIONS before starting on 
this journey. 

(Man examines sword; the orchestra gives a mili- 
tary bugle call. Battalion of New CONCEPTIONS 
enters. 

In the front rank are Faith, Hope, and LoVE. 
The New Conceptions are all brave youths dressed 
in white with sWords on the right side and pistols on 
the left side.) 

Man 
New Conceptions ! New Conceptions ! Let 
us be prepared to meet the army of SUPERSTITIONS 
in the dark forest. Be prepared to have a long and 
fierce struggle. 

New Conceptions 

We are ready! For our independence! 
{They march off enthusiastically.) 

{Music plays march.) 

Curtain 



68 



ACT FOUR 



ACT FOUR 

A dark night. 

A forest in which are ditches. 

The Tribe of Superstitions dressed in old 
clothes with many patches lives in these ditches. 

Near the front of the stage is a prison with iron- 
barred windows. 

Mystery is moving all around. 

Time and Space are walking about. 

Death and Life are dancing here and there. 

Man, Healthy Reason, Faith, Hope, and 

Love and the battalion of New CONCEPTIONS are 
coming in from the left side, walking thru the forest, 
sometimes stumbling, sometimes falling into the 
ditches. 

A roaring of many sounds and voices is heard, out 
of which can be heard the exclamation: **Oh-h-h-h-" 

Healthy Reason 
{Speal^ing in an undertone.) 

Here we are in the kingdom of the Yellow Dev- 
IL. This dark forest extends millions of miles in all 
directions. The night in the forest is very dark and 
very long. Long — long — thousands of years long. 

Man 

There is a smell of old and rotten traditions here. 

71 



the children of the universe • > 

Healthy Reason 
Yes, his majesty the Yellow Devil, is the ruler 
of this dark forest. 

Man 

Do you think there will ever be any light here? 
Healthy Reason 

There will be light here when the New CONCEP- 
TIONS have won the battle. They will overthrow the 
throne of the YelLOW Devil. But while he reigns, 
there is no hope for any light. Therefore I am call- 
ing you to the land of OPPORTUNITIES. These poor 
creatures have been wandering for centuries, waiting 
for you to come and use them. 

Superstitions 

{Exclaiming.) 

Who is brave enough to go to the land of OPPOR- 
TUNITY and Beauty? Here are Man and 
Healthy Reason! (Sarcastically.) They are 
going with the army of New CONCEPTIONS'. 

{Lightning — more and more. Sounds of roaring 
are heard.) 

Superstitions 
They bring light! We do not need light! We 
are accustomed to our darkness and ditches. They 
make us uncomfortable! Look at this Man's clothes! 
Why hasn't he the same clothes as we? The great 
trouble-maker is HEALTHY REASON. 

72 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

(Loudly.) 

Chains, chains, chains for HealthY REASON ! 

{A group of Superstitions come with chains, 

overpower HeaLTHY REASON, and place shackles 
on Wrists and ankles.) 

Man 
(To Superstitions.) 
Listen to me. 

Healthy Reason 
(To Man.) 

There is no use arguing with them; the best thing 
to do is to declare an open fight and to act. I know 
this very well. 

Man 

Are they not able to understand that we want the 
best for all of them? That we want to bring light 
into this dark forest only for their comfort and their 
benefit ? 

Healthy Reason 

Oh, Man! Your question is so naive! Don't 
you know that just this is the trouble with Man's 
race — that he is not aware of the conception of his 
own fortune? 

Man 

(Persistently.) 

This I would like to explain to them. 

73 



the children of the universe 

Healthy Reason 
Try it. But let me tell you a little story. It is 
a very good illustration of Man's race. I am sure 
you know something of the kingdom of the bees? 
You know how they live and into how many groups 
they are divided? 

Man 

Yes, I know that in each swarm there are three 
types: the Queen Bee who rules; the Drones that 
live only to satisfy the passion of the Queen Bee 
when she is flying in the fields; and the Workers 
who are in the great majority. They are born sex- 
less. Their only function is to support the Queen 
and the Drones. 

Healthy Reason 
I have noticed that the bees live in a dark hive and 
are satisfied with their darkness and slavery. For, 
when you try to make a little window or an opening 
in the hive that will admit the sun's rays, you will 
hear there a roaring and a buzzing — a kind of fer- 
mentation. Then they begin to work to cover the 
source of light. 

Man 

Why is this? 

Healthy Reason 
This question is difficult to answer. Perhaps when 
light comes, they begin to feel their darkness and 
slavery. But as they are so accustomed to their dark- 
ness, the light makes them very uncomfortable. 

74 



the children of the universe 

Man 

Why did you tell me this story? Men are not 
born sexless. 

Healthy Reason 

I only drew a comparison. The light that we 
bring to the forest of SUPERSTITIONS, influences 
them as the physical light influences the kingdom of 
the bees. 

Man 

But they are bees and these are men. 

Healthy Reason 

Remember that centuries and centuries passed be- 
fore you were evolved; and you should recognize 
the fact that your type of man is the advance-guard 
of Man. Many men have to take lessons from mon- 
keys. . 

{Lightning. A roaring.) 

Man 
{Unconvinced.) 

I will try anyway. Listen, SUPERSTITIONS, I 
want to talk to you. 

Superstitions 
{A group of Superstitions approach.) 

What talk! What talk! We know your ideas. 
You are an anarchist. You want to bring in trouble. 

75 



the children of the universe 

Man 

No! No! I have only good wishes for all of 
you. I forgive you for your roughness to me. But 
do listen. I vvrant to speak to you only about your 
old clothes and dark dirty ditches. 

(Some of the SUPERSTITIONS throw stones at 
him,) 

■ Man - 

You live here in the darkness with your old con- 
conceptions as in a hell. Just think, how the beautiful 
day — from the rising to the setting of the sun — 
passes here. 

Superstitions . 

{They try to force Man's thots back by forward 
motions of their hands, speaking to each other.) 

We do not need the rising of the sun. 

Man 
{Persistently,) 

Take for instance a beautiful spring day, when the 
sun rises and brings light and warmth; the skies are 
clear, the birds are singing and twittering, butter- 
flies are flying from place to place, the trees and 
plants are dressed in their beautiful colors. Look 
and listen to all of these things. See how wonder- 
fully beautiful they are. Why should you not live 
in these surroundings as in the garden of Eden? 
But think how your day passes! Your day is 

76 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

night as your night is night. Why should you be 
your own enemy? Go out from this dark forest. 

Superstitions 
{Talking noisily one to the other.) 

Something is wrong with him. What is he say- 
ing? He is crazy! He is so queer. 

(Some approach Man and tap his head in a 
significant manner.) 

Man 

I forgive you for everything. I was the same as 
you; but I have passed thru all the ages of Man's 
history and I have wandered thru all the countries 
of the world. There I became acquainted with the 
great Time and the equally great SPACE and I ac- 
quired my new CONCEPTIONS. They are my near- 
est friends. I will introduce them to you if you 
like. 

(Points toward New CONCEPTIONS.) 

{Lightning and lightning.) 

Superstitions 
Oh-h-h-h-h-h-h— light, light! 

( They try to shrink a^ay from the light into the 
darkness.) 

It gives us pain ! 

{Many of them throw mud and stones at Man.) 

77 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

{Behind the stage a sound of clinking metal is 
heard; there is the sound of an approaching carriage.) 

Superstitions 
{Excitedly.) 

His Majesty! His Majesty! His Majesty, the 
Yellow Devil! 

{Carriage containing the Yellow Devil enters 
from the right side. It is pulled, pushed, and sur- 
rounded by Superstitions.) 

Superstitions 

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! His Majesty, the 

Yellow Devil! 

{Some dance around, others kneel and worship 
the Yellow Devil. One speaks:) 

Your Majesty, here is a man who is preaching 
heresy. He wants us to Hve as in the garden of 
Eden. He says it is hell here. Your Majesty, 
what do you think about this? 

Yellow Devil 

My loyal subjects and slaves, for some time I 
have noticed lightnings and disturbances in my king- 
dom. 

{Takes from his bag a handful of golden coins 
and throws them on the stage. Laughs cynically.) 

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! This nonsense and delirium 
is laughable. 

78 



the children of the universe 
Superstitions 

He wants to introduce us to the New CONCEP- 
TIONS of life. 

Yellow Devil 

This Man — he wants to overthrow my throne. 
He's an anarchist. The real trouble-maker is 
Healthy Reason, whom I met on the Road of 
Thots. Where is he? 

Superstitions 
Here, here he is! 

Yellow Devil 
(Comes to Healthy Reason and throws gold 

upon him. The sound of gold is heard. SUPER- 
STITIONS are kpeeling and bowing to Yellow 
Devil who steps upon and spits at HEALTHY REA- 
SON. He claps his hands commandingly and says 
severely.) 

Imprison Healthy Reason, the real trouble- 
maker! Only bread and water for him. 

Superstitions 
(Pushing Healthy Reason roughly to the 
prison.) 

Oh, you trouble-maker, we will show you! 

(They lock '^^ prison and leave some of the SU- 
PERSTITIONS guarding it. HeaLTHY ReaSON looks 
out from the windows.) 

79 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

(Faith, Hope, and Love go to the window and 
tal\ secretively.) 

Man 

{To Faith, meditatively,) 

How do you feel ? 

Faith 
All right; but my sister, HoPE, is restless. I do 
not know why. 

Man 
{To Hope.) 

My dear friend, what is the matter with you? 

Hope 
{Speaking in a low voice to LoVE; then turning 
to Man.) 

Nothing. I was just speaking to LoVE. 

Man 
What did she say? 

Hope 
She grieves a little for the doctor, HEALTHY REA- 
SON. 

Man 
{To Love.) 

Are you suffering? 

Love 

I want to adjust the chains of HEALTHY REASON. 

so 



the children of the universe 

Man 

Do it if you can. 

Love 
{Going to Healthy Reason, gives him some 
flowers. She puts her hands thru the windows and 
turns the chains on his Wrist,) 

Man 
(To Healthy Reason.) 

The chains cause you pain. You are losing your 
liberty. 

Healthy Reason 

I am used to chains and prison. The SUPERSTI- 
TIONS are mistaken if they think that my imprison- 
ment is worse than their dark forest. Their ruler, the 
Yellow Devil, holds all of them in shackles and 
imprisonment; and he will rule until Man's race ac- 
cepts the New Conceptions of life. His power 
is based upon the old conceptions of life. 

Man 
(To New Conceptions.) 

Healthy Reason is in prison, Hope is restless, 

and Love is suffering. 

(New Conceptions murmur to each other.) 

Faith 
{To Man in an undertone.) 

Try to prove to the SUPERSTITIONS that it is for 

81 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

their good, to set HeaLTHY REASON free; and then 
we will pass thru the DARK FoREST. 

Man 

(To Superstitions, making one more attempt to 
convince them.) 

Listen, Superstitions, for your own welfare, set 
free HeaLTHY ReaSON. We want to go to the 

Valley of Opportunity and Beauty. It is im- 
possible for us to stay here in these dirty ditches. It 
is unclean! It smells badly! There is no light! 

One of the Superstitions 

We have our beauties and our great opportunities. 
Our beauties are Faith in dogma, Hope in stagnation, 
and Love in traditions; and to serve the Yellow 
Devil is our Great Opportunity. 

Man 

(Making one last attempt.) 

I want to. . . .to. . . .to explain 

(// lightens.) 

All Superstitions 
(Motioning him back in a resisting manner.) 

Explain? No. No. We don't need any more 
explanations. 

(They throw mud and stones at him.) 

82 



the children of the universe 

Man 

(Turns toward New CONCEPTIONS, speaking de- 
terminedly.) 

I see that there is only one way to explain. Let 
us get ready. 

{Takes out the sword and looks at its edge. New 
Conceptions are doing the same and drawing their 
pistols. They battle with SUPERSTITIONS who in 
like manner draw their pistols. SUPERSTITIONS are 
being driven back into the forest.) 

Superstitions 
{Far in the forest, calling.) 

We are many. Our number is legions. 

(Some of the New CONCEPTIONS are storming 
the prison, breaking locks and iron bars. They take 
out Healthy Reason and remove his shackles.) 

Healthy Reason 
(Stretches himself, then grasps the hand o/Man.) 

From today, I shall call you The Man instead 

of Man. 

(They go straight thru the forest and continue the 
battle; sounds of shooting are continually heard.) 

Curtain 



83 



ACT FIVE 



ACT FIVE 

The Land Of Opportunity And Beauty 

The beginning of dawn in a beautiful valley. 

Back of the stage are sounds of shooting as if com- 
ing from a distance, for several minutes. 

After the shooting ceases, the flapping of w^ings 
and the crowing of a cock is heard. Birds are sing- 
ing. 

The orchestra plays softly and quietly: "The Be- 
ginning of the Dawn". Then silence. 

Death and Life are dancing gracefully holding 
each other's hands. 

Time and Space are walking about. 

Mystery is hovering everywhere. 

A group of Opportunities — all, young maidens 
with wings — are dancing nymphlike, dressed in colors 
of rose and white. 

Childhood and Youth are in the front of the 
stage. 

From the left side comes The Man, hand in 
hand with HealtHY ReASON. 

Faith limps and is supported by HoPE and 

Love. 

New Conceptions are marching in, with swords 
on their shoulders. 

27 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

Following them is BACILLUS. 

Knowledge is running after her. 

Opportunities are saluting The Man, to the 
accompaniment of the music — "Hurrah! Hurrah! 
Hurrah! The Man is coming!" They are happy 
and excited. 

Opportunities 
(ro The Man.) 

We have been waiting and waiting for you — cen- 
turies. We are glad to be adopted by you. What 
is the use of wandering around aimlessly? 

New Conceptions 
{Whispering to each other excitedly.) 
A doctor! A doctor! 

Healthy Reason 

What is the matter? 

Hope 

Doctor, Faith was wounded in the dark forest 
and she limps. 

Healthy Reason 
Let me see what has happened to her. 

(Goes to Faith; Hope and Love are support- 
ing her under the arms. HealthY ReASON exam- 
ines her foot.) 

83 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

This is nothing. She has a bullet of the SUPER- 
STITIONS in her right heel. She needs good care to 
overcome the shock and that is all. 

{To Hope and Love.) 

Take good care of her. Here is a prescription for 
her. 

{Writes and reads: ) 

"Meet Childhood and Youth many times a 
day". 

(Faith, Hope, and Love are speaking to each 
other.) 

Hope 
{To Childhood and Youth.) 

Childhood and Youth, Faith is waiting for 
you. She asked me to call you. 

(Childhood and Youth join Faith, Hope, 
and Love and remain with them.) 

Healthy Reason 

{Turns toward New CONCEPTIONS.) 

My dear friends, let us join OPPORTUNITIES and 
cheer up Faith. Our dear HoPE, will you intro- 
duce New Conceptions to Opportunities.^ 

Hope 

{To Opportunities.) 

Let me introduce to you our battalion of New 
Conceptions. They are brave soldiers. 

89 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

(New Conceptions and Opportunities bow 

and shake hands; music plays and they begin a 
ballet. Couples dance for several minutes.) 

(Knowledge is running after Bacillus all the 
while. He finally overtakes her and pulls off her 
Veil. She Weeps. But from the other side, another 
form of bacillus appears.) 

(New Conceptions and Opportunities 
promenade. 

Pause. Silence for a short time. Music plays 
for a short while very softly. 

Philosophy with her scroll in hand, enters at 
the front of stage.) 

Opportunities 

Friends, PHILOSOPHY is here. 

Philosophy 

I am very glad to meet this whole party here. I 
came to see my little nephew, the boy KNOWLEDGE. 
He got so excited, hunting for the little girl, BACIL- 
LUS, that he left me. 

{Turns to Knowledge.) 

Oh, my little boy, why are you so discouraged? 
Knowledge 

Auntie, I overcame this BACILLUS; I took off her 
veil, and for a second I was happy; but another one 
came. 



90 



the children of the universe 

Philosophy 
{Points to Death and Life.) 

Don't you see that DEATH and LiFE are together? 
So it is natural. 

(Knowledge starts after the other Bacillus.) 

Philosophy 
{To Healthy Reason.) 

Ah, my old friend. I haven't seen you for a long 
time. Where have you been? 

Healthy Reason 

Where could I be in the DarK ForEST if not 
in prison? 

Philosophy 
Yes, I see the imprints of chains on your wrists. 
I sent you a patient, a neuresthenic. How is he? 

Healthy Reason 

Here he is. 

Philosophy 
{To The Man.) 

I would not recognize you. There is quite a 
change in you. 

The Man 

{Inclining his head to PHILOSOPHY.) 

I appreciate very much your sending me to the 
Doctor. 

91 



the children of the universe 

Healthy Reason 
My patient made improvements. 

{The sound of a cock crowing and the flapping of 
his wings is heard.) 

Philosophy 
The cock proclaims the dawn. , 

{Turns toward OPPORTUNITIES, nods to them; 
they acknowledge the greeting.) 

{To Healthy Reason.) 

I have great confidence in these maidens. If 
Man would only adopt them, there would be a great 
change. 

{To Opportunities.) 

How are you? 

Opportunities 

Very well, thank you. We have been waiting 
and waiting for Man to adopt us. 

Philosophy 

{Goes to Knowledge, looks over the toys in the 
express wagon and exclaims.) 

Wonderful, wonderful things! 

{Takes a book from the Wagon and reads.) 

"Humanity has wealth several hundred times 
greater than is necessary for all men now upon the 

92 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

Earth. Man's knowledge has made so many dis- 
coveries and inventions, that there is an opportunity 
to give all kinds of comfort and pleasure to every 
one, even if the number of men should be several 
thousand times greater." Yes, I know that your 
mother gave you many great inventions, but I have 
not time to look at them now. 

{Embraces KNOWLEDGE.) 

Well, dear, I am leaving you here, while I am 
gone. 

Knowledge 

Where are you going, auntie? 

Philosophy 

I am going to visit the flowers of the fields and 
sing hymns to Nature. 

Knowledge 

Auntie, I will go with you. 

Philosophy 

No, dear boy, stay here with MaN. It is time you 
were serving Man for his benefit. I will ask 
Healthy Reason to take care of you. 

{Takes Knowledge by the hand and leads him 
to Healthy Reason.) . 

I want to ask something of you. 

93 



the children of the universe 

Healthy Reason 
What is it, my friend? 

Philosophy 

Here is my little nephew, KNOWLEDGE; I want 
you to take care of him. He is a very bright boy. 
Look at his discoveries and inventions. 

{Points toward the wagon.) 

The trouble with him is, that he has cruel incli- 
nations and commits many crimes. 

Healthy Reason 

Where is his mother? 

Philosophy 

My sister, EXPERIENCE, — oh, if you only knew 
how hard she is working all the time. She works 
for Lady History. She serves her faithfully. If 
you only knew how difficult it is to raise and develop 
her little boy, KNOWLEDGE — and it worries her 
greatly! 

Healthy Reason 
What is the matter? 

Philosophy 
{Pointing toward the wagon.) 

Do you see these toys? Just think how many 
great thots and how much hard work his mother 
invested in them! Each thot is thousands of years 

94 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

old. There are mothers and mothers! Some 
mothers when they want a toy for a child, spend 
copper, silver, or gold; but this boy's mother, EX- 
perience 

Healthy Reason 
What did she do? 

Philosophy 
She herself made the original of these. Her pur- 
pose was that KNOWLEDGE should give comfort 
and pleasure to Man and not destroy him. 

Healthy Reason 
Does he have destructive inclinations? 

Philosophy 

In spite of the fact that EXPERIENCE is faith- 
fully laboring for Lady History, KNOWLEDGE is kept 
in the back yard. History seldom calls him for the 
benefit of Man, but more often, calls him to assist 
in destruction. 

Healthy Reason 

Perhaps it would be a good idea to place Know- 
L.EDGE in a reformatory. 

Philosophy 

Could you expect to find such an institution in 
the dark forest, where everything is so influenced by 
Superstitions? 

95 



the children of the universe 

Healthy Reason 
It is very doubtful. 

Philosophy 
So, I am asking you to kindly care for my nephew, 
Knowledge. It would be a good idea to take him 
often to this Land of Opportunity. 

Healthy Reason 
{Putting his arm about KNOWLEDGE.) 

I shall do my best. 

Philosophy 

(Embraces KNOWLEDGE.) 

Obey Healthy Reason. I am going. 

Healthy Reason 
Before you leave, let us see our patient, Faith. 
She limps a little and is nervous. 

(Philosophy and Healthy Reason go to 
Faith, Hope, and Love who are with Childhood 
and Youth. Healthy Reason feels Faith's 
pulse,) 

Philosophy 
(To Faith.) 

What is the the matter with you ? 

Faith 
The darkness and wilderness of the Kingdom of 

96 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

the Yellow Devil in the immense forest makes me 
nervous. 

Philosophy 
I think you will find that the prescription which 
Healthy Reason gave you will help you greatly. 

{Turning to all the characters,) 

Friends, I am leaving you. My best wishes to you 
all. I would like to meet you more often in this 
land. 

{Goes to Hope, caresses her cheek and says:) 

Dear HoPE, keep for your view-point the Land of 
Opportunity and Beauty. 

(Philosophy leaves.) 

{A shouting is heard beyond the stage.) 

Man 

Who can it be? 

Love 

I recognize by the sounds that these are your rela- 
tives. 

{The shouting continues. LoVE goes out toward 
the sounds.) 

Love 

{Re-enters.) 
Here they are. 

97 



the children of the universe 

Man 
You said relatives? Why should they come now? 

Love 
{Interrupting.) 

They are persistent. 

Man 
{Decisively,) 

Let them come in. 

Plant, Animal, Mineral 
{Entering.) 

We are here to remind you of our relationship to 
you 

Curtain 



98 



EPILOG 



EPILOG 

The laboratory — as before. 
Music is softly playing. 
Semi-darkness. 
Thunder and lightning. 

Abstract, "He", and the Doctor appear. 

"He" 
{To Abstract.) 

And you are the manager of this production? 

' Abstract 

The manager and author, too. After all, I see 
it is easier to write a play than to manage it. I 
wanted to stage this as a dramatic opera but there was 
no time to make arrangements with a composer. 

{More thunder and lightning,) 

Abstract 
{Turns and speaks as if in a dream and yet force- 

fully.) 

Friends, citizens of the earth and other planets, I 
have been traveling from the endlessness of worlds. 

101 



THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE 

I raced to Europe; there I felt sure I would have a 
larger audience. 

{Lowers his voice to a whisper.) 

In Europe, you know, industry is not so advanced 
and there are more visitors and lovers on the Road of 
Thots. But I had to change my route, for at this time 
the temperature is so high there, that gold is melting. 
And when gold is in the process of melting, there is 
nothing to be said about art. 

{SpeaJ^s more rapidly.) 

I must hurry. An aeroplane by the name of IM- 
AGINATION is waiting to carry me back to the endless- 
ness of worlds. On this trip I shall stage the same 
play on Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter, and other planets. 
The same principal characters — DEATH, LiFE, MYS- 
TERY, Time, and Space will be represented. The 
other characters I will leave here as there are different 
types on the other planets. 

Farewell. 



(Music plays — ABSTRACT disappears by 
flying.) 

Curtain 
END 



102 



HAROLD E. PICKBRSGILL 



Perth Amboy, New Jersey. 



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